Come join thousands of other Angelenos in LA’s most anticipated vehicle-free Sunday ever on October 7! (Photo is of CicLAvia‘s latest flyer)

Next Sunday, October 7, from 10am to 3pm, come celebrate LA’s fifth edition of CicLAvia! CicLAvia opens the streets for people to freely walk, skate, play, ride a bike, or ?, by making selected city streets vehicle-free for the day. As always, CicLAvia will also offer a wide variety of programmed activities for people of all interests and ages, including music, performances, food trucks, and more. Shop owners and restaurants along the 10-mile route are encouraged to open their doors to people along the CicLAvia route (possibly with some special deals?). The event is not a race, as there is no “start” or “finish;” the streets simply operate as a platform allowing participants to enjoy the space as they see fit.

Ciclovías started in Bogotá, Colombia, over thirty years ago as a response to the congestion and pollution of city streets. Now they happen throughout North and South America, connecting communities and giving people a break from the stress of car traffic. Ciclovías bring families outside of their homes to enjoy the streets, our largest public space. Here, CicLAvia creates a temporary park for free, simply by removing cars from city streets. It creates a network of connections between our neighborhoods and businesses and parks, and fills our street corridors with fun.

Route Information

Click on the route map to view a printable, full-screen version.

The October 7th CicLAvia route will include parts of the original 2010 CicLAvia route – Little Tokyo, Downtown, and MacArthur Park. It will also bring participants to several new destinations this time around, including Exposition Park, Chinatown, Mariachi Plaza and the Metro Rail Soto Station in Boyle Heights. CicLAvia organizers hope to eventually spread the event across the entire region — from Long Beach to the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica to Pomona, as well as places between and beyond.

Bathroom and hydration stations will be located at six hubs: Soto Station and Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights; Grand Park ; MacArthur Park; Exposition Park; and Chinatown. There will be one ADA handicap-accessible bathroom at each rest stop. Also, water stations will be set up as taps (water fountains connected to LADWP fire hydrants), so in the spirit of conservation, CicLAvia organizers are asking participants to bring their own water bottle to refill at the hubs.

Getting To CicLAvia

Its highly recommended to bike, walk, and/or take transit to CicLAvia. Here is a list of Metro rail stops along the route:

If you live further out, taking Metrolink to Ciclavia may be your next best bet. Metrolink is offering a $10 Weekend Pass, which allows passengers to ride anytime, anywhere systemwide, and includes free connections to most rail or bus lines throughout Southern California. Moreover, Metrolink will be providing additional Bike Cars the day of CicLAvia. These specially-designed cars can hold 18 bicycles, compared to most cars which have a limit of 3. Check out Metrolink’s Maps and Timetables to figure out your itinerary.

If you do decide to go by car, arriving early is highly recommended. Street parking or pay lots are generally available within a few blocks of the route. L.A. City metered parking is generally free on Sundays. Due to street closures, we recommend not searching for parking too near the route.

Schedule of Street Closures

1AM– officially no parking on the route goes into effect

6AM – parked car along the route will be towed

8AM – street closures begin to go in effect

930AM – all street closures in effect

3PM – route will be re-opened to motor vehicle traffic

Simple enough rules to have a great time!

See y’all there!

This past April, at least 100,000 Angelenos participated in the fourth rendition of CicLAvia. With the Metro Expo Line fully operational, the turnout expectation for this 5th time is even greater. Make sure to invite your family and friends; and let’s make headlines by having a great time enjoying clean, vehicle-free streets in Los Angeles!